Turquoise has been considered a sacred or magical gemstone for thousands of years. There are records showing that people used it as an amulet as far back as 4000 B.C. in Egypt. People believe that turquoise is a purification stone that brings good fortune, inner calm and inspires romantic love. It’s a greenish blue or blue stone. Turquoise can be found in deposits in Turkestan, the American Southwest, Tibet, Poland, Egypt, Afghanistan and Arabia. It’s also found in Turkey and its name actually means Turkish stone. Turquoise is the national gem of Iran. Even today, airplane pilots might carry a turquoise stone with them to give them luck.

Turquoise is largely made of a hydrous phosphate of aluminum and small inclusions of iron give it its greenish color, while a bit of copper gives it a blue color. Many turquoise stones are embellished by dark veins running through them. These are called the turquoise matrix. The color of turquoise might fade if it’s exposed to strong light or heat. The stone is also porous and might absorb grease or dirt. Turquoise has a rating of 6 on the Mohs scale and because it’s so soft it’s often waxed or given other treatments to make it tougher.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has several parures made of turquoise. They’re Queen Mary’s Turquoise Parures and the Gloucester Turquoise Parure. The Queen’s sister Princess Margaret had a necklace made of pearls and turquoise when she was a baby. These jewels were passed down to Princess Margaret’s daughter.

About the Author:Julia Lawrence thoroughly enjoys spending time researching and writing about diamonds, jewelry and pop culture! When she isn't hard at work writing blog posts for The Diamond Lining, she spends her time wither with an absolutely adorable Mini Golder Retriever: Jake, and her husband: Mr. Julia Lawrence.
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